Desk construction and arrangement



J. J. DONOVAN. DESK cowsmucnon AND ARRANGEMENT.

. Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET I- \\\\Yl WW IN V ENTOR .folzn J: Donovan APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. I919.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- INVEN'IOR Jb/zn 1 Donovan UNITED STATES JOHN J. DONOVAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DESK CONSTRUCTIGN AND ARBANGEMEHT.

Specification o1" Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1919. Serial No. 329,106.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that 1 Jenn J. DONOVAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Desk Constructions and .i lrrangements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to school furniture and particularly to improvements on the construction of the desk and seat shown in my former Patent No. 1,300,934, dated April 15th, 1919, entitled Desk arrangement.

To obtain the best possible lighting and hygienic conditions when constructing school buildings and particularly when laying out the equipment of school rooms, it is required that about sixty per cent. of the exterior wall surface shall be allowed for the transmission of daylight. The windows thus provided are generally placed along the outer wall and as the desks and aisles generally run parallel with the outer wall, it can readily be seen that the pupils occupying the rows nearest the windows are ex posed to excessive light and as the light enters at right angles to the line of vision, it has been foundthat it is more or less injurious to the eyesight, due to the fact that V a considerable amount of light penetrates the corners of the eyes of the pupils when they are studying and also when they are sitting in an erect position. Furthermore, the pupils seated in these rows from the center to the rear are especially affected because of the great amount of window area and reflected light positioned to the left and in front of them. This is still more pronounced when the windows extend to the front wall of the room which is often the case where the room is short in length in order to provide the required amount of light for the room. Practically two-thirds of the pupils would in that case be affected.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a desk and seat which are so constructed that the above defects will be obviated, said desk and seat being adapted to be positioned on an angle with relation to the row formation of the desks and still maintain the row formation, thus permitting the pupils in the outer rows nearest the windows to give the teacher their attention without turning their heads or bodies and also permitting the pupils in the rows nearest to the windows to be exposed to all the light required without affooting their eyesight. Another object of the invention is to provide a desk and seat which are substantially rhomboidal in form, said desks and seats having their ends parallel with the aisles and the corners rounded to prevent danger of injury to the teacher and pupils when using the aisles. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel hingedike support that will permit the seats to be folded with relation to the rhomboid .a series of desks and seats.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a desk and seat. 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates, in general, the top of a desk and B the seat; the type of desk and seat em ployed in this instance being of the integral type. That is, the support for the seat of the desk directly in front thereof.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the top of the desk is rhomboidal in form and that the seat proper is of a similar shape. This is of importance as it permits the desks and seats to be placed on an angle with relation to the row formation of the aisles, and it also permits the ends of the desks and the seats to run parallel with the aisles. The frame supporting each desk and seat is in this instance constructed of two sections, indicated at 2 and 3, said sections being secured together by a lateral "rame or bar land by the back-rest 5, the

desk A and the seat B. Each frame section is provided with a pair of brackets, as shown at 6 and 7, the brackets 6 supporting the desk and the brackets 7 the seat.

iPatented Nov. 2, 1920. i

Formed at the upper ends of the brackets 7 are hinge lugs 8 and secured on the lower sides of thescats B are plates 9 which are hingedly supported in the lugs 8. The lugs 8 and, the portions of the plates 9 which en gage the same are twisted or angularly positioned, as shown at 10, thus permitting the seat to be folded or extended. The frames 2 and 3 are disposed in parallelism with the ends of the desks and the seats, but the hinge connections between the seats and the brackthe teacher.

ets 8 are angularly positioned with relation thereto to permit movement of the seat about the hinges.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the corners of the desk tops and the seats are round, as indicated at 11, and that the corner on one end of each seat is rounded to a greater extent than the opposite'corner, as

shown at 12. This is resorted to to prevent any portion of the seat from pro ecting outthe teacher without turning the head or' body and also that the light entering through the windows will not have a tendency to. excessively penetrate the corners of the eyes of the pupils as the light rays are entering the room over the pupils left shoulders. Again, these advantageous features are obtained without disturbing the parallel aisles and row formationsand with out subjecting the teacher or pupils to any danger when using the aisles,'as the ends of the desks and seats are parallel witlrtlie aisles and the corners are rounded.

From the'foregoing it will be noted that very much less direct light will enter the eyes of the pupils seated in this form of seats and desks, when studying and when their heads are in an erect position with the eyes directed to the front of the room or to This will have an important bearing on preserving the general health and eyesightof the pupils. Furthermore, the

position of the majority of pupils will be moreinatural and consequently more comfortable as a greater portion of the hours of classroom work is employed in giving attention to the teacher. 7

Another advantage will be less strain on the eyes .when reading written matter or 7 looking at illustrations whether placed on a desk or a blackboard in the front of the room" Another advantage lies in the possibility of placing the teachers desk closer to the wall opposite to the windows. Advantages, may also be extended to lessening the cost in'the constructionofthebuilding and in simplifying the planning and design. At the present time it is considered necessary to 'providea solid wall at the front and right of the desks so that daylight is obstructed from entering at this angle. gling of the exterior surfaceand interior rooms andoften adds small rooms at the ent is--' This requires ug endsof the building in order to obtain symmetry in the exterior design.

While the drawings here illustrate a specific form of frame for the support of the seat and desk, I wish it understood that a separate frame, for instance of the pedestal type, maybe employed; the important feature of the present invention being the provision of a desk that is rhomboidal in form and a seat cooperating therewith which is similar in shape. 7

The materials and finish of the several parts may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

Various changes in the design and proportionsmay be resorted to within the scope of r the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. A combined desk and seat unit including a desk having a top, a back and a seat, the desk top and seat each being of approximately equal length and both rhomboidal in form, said back being of approximately the same length as that of the seat and arranged so as to provide a back for the seat throughout the length of the seat and also arranged to lie parallel to the front edge of the seat, the seat being provided with rounded cor ners. Y

2; In with a desk and a seat, of a supporting frame for the seat and the desk, said seat school furniture, the combination and desk adapted to be arranged in lineal row formation and disposed on an angle to said lineal row formation, said seat and desk being of rhomboidalform and having their ends parallel with the lineal row formation, and hinge lugs supporting the seat to permit it to be folded with relation to the.

desk, said hinge lugs being angularly positioned with relation to the lineal row formation. r

V 3. In school furniture the combination of a desk and, seat, said desk and-seat adapted to be arranged inlineal row formation, and

- each being of rhomboidal' form, and having 7 their ends parallel with the lineal row formation, a pairof supporting frames, a pair of brackets extendlng fro'm'each frame, the

rear brackets being adapted to support the desk,and angular hinged connections on'the forward'brackets for said seat about which the'seat 1S foldable to lie parallel with the desk. V v

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. noNovAN.

lVitnesses:

EDNA M. HANKs,

A. L. h/TADERIS. 

